Andong Song made history after being selected by the New York Islanders as defenseman in the draft by the NHL last month. (Photo : Reuters)
After a month since he was drafted at the National Hockey League, Song Andong will start training at the New York Islanders this week.
The first Chinese player ever drafted in the league joined his teammates during their mini camp at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Song, picked as the 172nd overall in the draft last month, revealed in an interview that he feels pretty good during his first scrimmage with the team.
"(It's) pretty good, you know I'm learning a lot of stuff. The coaches have been very supportive,” said the 18-year-old hockey player from China.
The chosen New York Islanders defenseman said that he was just fixing small things here and there.
“Hopefully that'll make me a better hockey player,” added Song.
When asked what he still needs to improve on, the Beijing-born player gave emphasis to speed and strength.
"I think definitely my strength, you know, and gotta get stronger, get faster and then that'll help my game, you know? Makes my moves more efficient, much stronger on the ice, be able to knock pucks away more often so I think getting stronger is the biggest priority right now," said Song.
Song played in the Beijing International Ice Hockey League (BIIHL) minor league before living in Oakville, Ontario, with his family.
Although he moved to North America since he was nine, Song still hopes to keep representing his home country in the future. The young athlete also dreams of playing in the Olympic Games.
The six-foot-tall Song has represented China internationally as captain of the Chinese National Team at the 2014 and 2015 IIHF World Under-18 Championships, Division II-B.
"It's nice to see his composure," said Charles Wang, the owner of the Islanders for 15 years now. "He knows it's symbolic right now--it's just starting for him. But he is mature and he handles it very well."
